Southgate regrets ‘missed opportunity’ before England host Ivory Coast

There is nothing obscure about the threat posed by Ivory Coast but their visit to Wembley still feels curiously like a break from routine. England have not faced an opponent from outside Europe since November 2018, when the USA were seen off in a friendly; this will be the first and last chance to give preparations for Qatar 2022 a cross-continental flavour.

In the seven months leading up to the last World Cup England were able to face Brazil and then, once the draw was known, schedule friendlies in early June against Nigeria and Costa Rica. The theory is traditionally that it pays to test oneself against opposition who are proximate, geographically at least, to forthcoming group stage foes but that is far more difficult now.

After Tuesday night, England will play Germany, Hungary and Italy twice each in the Nations League before travelling to Qatar, but will have no time for further experiments; those fixtures might be at least semi-competitive but none of them are likely to bear surprises.

Then again, would any encounter do that? Gareth Southgate was asked whether it really matters that England will not be able to take on more unusual assignments between now and November, and whether the idea of distinct regional styles is outmoded given the level of cross-pollination and scrutiny throughout all corners of the sport.

“I think a lot of European football is homogenised but I don’t think world football is yet,” he said. “There are tactical criteria that transfer across but there are definite attributes, traits and styles that do have cultural differences: South American football with the way it’s played, African football.”

By that logic England may wish to avoid Saudi Arabia, Iran and Ecuador in November. Southgate